More Information

Walker murder case goes cold again

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday said that DNA from two famous killers does not match that found at the scene where Christine Walker, her husband, Cliff, and their two children were found dead.

Published: Wednesday, August 14, 2013 at 11:35 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, August 14, 2013 at 11:35 p.m.

SARASOTA - For now, the door is shut tight on further attempts to use DNA to solve the cold case of a young Osprey family slain in their home more than 50 years ago.

“We have exhausted the extent of the scientific testing available today,” Wendy Rose, spokeswoman for the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, said Wednesday, the day after the announcement that DNA from two famous killers does not match that found at the scene where Christine Walker, her husband, Cliff, and their two toddlers were found dead.

The first wave of national publicity about the case late last year prompted a number of tips, which investigators have followed up — to no avail. They hope Tuesday's revelation will bring in even more.

“It's a cold case, but if something new comes to light, we'll look into it,” Rose said. “You follow a lead until you can't follow it anymore.”

Rose said the eight-month DNA investigation into the Walker family tragedy cost county taxpayers nothing, other than for travel expenses for a handful of local investigators to watch the exhumation of the bodies of the “In Cold Blood” killers in Kansas.

But the Kansas Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday disputed that it alone was covering the bill.

“That's not my understanding,” said Kyle Smith, KBI deputy director. “Sarasota offered to pay us, and we said we would bill them when we have the totals. Maybe we have a misunderstanding.”

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office has been criticized for spending taxpayer funds on the 53-year-old case.

Although DNA results from the killers' bones and teeth were expected within a few weeks after the bodies of Bill Hickock and Perry Smith were exhumed last December, time dragged on with no announcement.

After the KBI announced it had only a partial profile that did not match DNA found on Christine's underwear, the samples were examined by a private lab.

Kim McGath, Sarasota County cold case detective, had spent hours poring over the voluminous case record, picking up a thread that she believed pointed to the involvement of Smith and Hickock. The two men denied shooting Christine, Cliff and Jimmie, 3, and drowning Debbie, 1, during their interviews with author Truman Capote for his true-crime novel, later made into a movie.

In early interviews with the Herald-Tribune, McGath said the two men were in Florida at the time, shortly after killing the Clutter family in an eerily similar slaying.

McGath kept in close, sometimes daily contact with family members and friends, telling them she believed strongly in Hickock and Smith's guilt.

“I feel sorry for Ms. McGath,” said Pat Myers of Lake Placid, the half-brother of Christine, on Wednesday. “She told me she was 99 percent sure it was Hickock and Smith.”

As word began to leak from Kansas that partial DNA results did not appear to match evidence found at the scene, the Sheriff's Office halted any media interviews with McGath, despite repeated requests.

When asked if she still remained highly confident in the guilt of Hickock and Smith, McGath referred the question to Rose.

“The test results did not provide any information that would add to or detract from any degree of certainty,” Rose said.

Fred Shenkman, emeritus associate professor of criminology and sociology at the University of Florida, said weighing the relative value of pursuing cold cases is a complicated matter that can vary by crime and by community.

When law enforcement officials decide to devote manpower to cold cases, they must take that time and money from somewhere else, including more recent crimes. It might be as simple as concentrating officers on spotting drunk drivers rather than on people in possession of a small amount of marijuana.

“What is the value of finding a murderer years later? To a family? To a community? Is it worth it?” Shenkman asked.

He said that the issue of discretion in law enforcement is one rarely considered, but involves what a society chooses to pursue as a criminal act and what it most values.

Seeking to solve murders clearly is a high priority.

“The fact that we choose to put no statue of limitation on murder, and that this perception has a long history, suggests this is part of the fabric of our culture, and it will be forever,” he said.

It has been difficult for members of the Walker family to rehash the pain of the murders and the community condemnation that occurred afterward, as relatives and friends were seen as suspects.

This time, however, the experience brought more beneficial results.

Myers said he remains convinced of Hickock and Smith's guilt, as does Wendi Cascarella, Christine's niece. Myers disputed claims that his half-sister was killed by a jealous boyfriend or that she brought on her attack because she wore provocative clothing, a widely held belief at the time.

Other relatives also mentioned McGath's confidence in her interpretation of the case record as the reason they believe the two killers are responsible — regardless of the DNA test results.

Myers, who has at times expressed anger at the Sheriff's Office for the delays in releasing the DNA results, said one good thing nevertheless came of the reopening of the case.

“Everybody realizes now that Christine wasn't a bad person,” he said. “We cleared her name.”

<p><em>SARASOTA</em> - For now, the door is shut tight on further attempts to use DNA to solve the cold case of a young Osprey family slain in their home more than 50 years ago.</p><p>“We have exhausted the extent of the scientific testing available today,” Wendy Rose, spokeswoman for the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, said Wednesday, the day after the announcement that DNA from two famous killers does not match that found at the scene where Christine Walker, her husband, Cliff, and their two toddlers were found dead.</p><p>The first wave of national publicity about the case late last year prompted a number of tips, which investigators have followed up — to no avail. They hope Tuesday's revelation will bring in even more.</p><p>“It's a cold case, but if something new comes to light, we'll look into it,” Rose said. “You follow a lead until you can't follow it anymore.”</p><p>Rose said the eight-month DNA investigation into the Walker family tragedy cost county taxpayers nothing, other than for travel expenses for a handful of local investigators to watch the exhumation of the bodies of the “In Cold Blood” killers in Kansas.</p><p>But the Kansas Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday disputed that it alone was covering the bill.</p><p>“That's not my understanding,” said Kyle Smith, KBI deputy director. “Sarasota offered to pay us, and we said we would bill them when we have the totals. Maybe we have a misunderstanding.”</p><p>The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office has been criticized for spending taxpayer funds on the 53-year-old case.</p><p>Although DNA results from the killers' bones and teeth were expected within a few weeks after the bodies of Bill Hickock and Perry Smith were exhumed last December, time dragged on with no announcement.</p><p>After the KBI announced it had only a partial profile that did not match DNA found on Christine's underwear, the samples were examined by a private lab.</p><p>Kim McGath, Sarasota County cold case detective, had spent hours poring over the voluminous case record, picking up a thread that she believed pointed to the involvement of Smith and Hickock. The two men denied shooting Christine, Cliff and Jimmie, 3, and drowning Debbie, 1, during their interviews with author Truman Capote for his true-crime novel, later made into a movie.</p><p>In early interviews with the Herald-Tribune, McGath said the two men were in Florida at the time, shortly after killing the Clutter family in an eerily similar slaying.</p><p>McGath kept in close, sometimes daily contact with family members and friends, telling them she believed strongly in Hickock and Smith's guilt.</p><p>“I feel sorry for Ms. McGath,” said Pat Myers of Lake Placid, the half-brother of Christine, on Wednesday. “She told me she was 99 percent sure it was Hickock and Smith.”</p><p>As word began to leak from Kansas that partial DNA results did not appear to match evidence found at the scene, the Sheriff's Office halted any media interviews with McGath, despite repeated requests.</p><p>When asked if she still remained highly confident in the guilt of Hickock and Smith, McGath referred the question to Rose.</p><p>“The test results did not provide any information that would add to or detract from any degree of certainty,” Rose said.</p><p>Fred Shenkman, emeritus associate professor of criminology and sociology at the University of Florida, said weighing the relative value of pursuing cold cases is a complicated matter that can vary by crime and by community.</p><p>When law enforcement officials decide to devote manpower to cold cases, they must take that time and money from somewhere else, including more recent crimes. It might be as simple as concentrating officers on spotting drunk drivers rather than on people in possession of a small amount of marijuana. </p><p>“What is the value of finding a murderer years later? To a family? To a community? Is it worth it?” Shenkman asked.</p><p>He said that the issue of discretion in law enforcement is one rarely considered, but involves what a society chooses to pursue as a criminal act and what it most values.</p><p>Seeking to solve murders clearly is a high priority.</p><p>“The fact that we choose to put no statue of limitation on murder, and that this perception has a long history, suggests this is part of the fabric of our culture, and it will be forever,” he said.</p><p>It has been difficult for members of the Walker family to rehash the pain of the murders and the community condemnation that occurred afterward, as relatives and friends were seen as suspects.</p><p>This time, however, the experience brought more beneficial results.</p><p>Myers said he remains convinced of Hickock and Smith's guilt, as does Wendi Cascarella, Christine's niece. Myers disputed claims that his half-sister was killed by a jealous boyfriend or that she brought on her attack because she wore provocative clothing, a widely held belief at the time.</p><p>Other relatives also mentioned McGath's confidence in her interpretation of the case record as the reason they believe the two killers are responsible — regardless of the DNA test results.</p><p>Myers, who has at times expressed anger at the Sheriff's Office for the delays in releasing the DNA results, said one good thing nevertheless came of the reopening of the case.</p><p>“Everybody realizes now that Christine wasn't a bad person,” he said. “We cleared her name.”</p>